“Don’t yell at me, but what is your ideal weight, before the equipment is added?”
“I like to maintain one hundred and ten pounds. With the equipment, that will put me in at one fifteen.”
“Two pounds over the required limit.”
“Correct.”
“What if you don’t meet the minimum weight?”
“Then weights are added to the horse. This is in the form of a weighted blanket beneath the saddle. Instead of the regular saddle blanket, a weighted one would be added. In my twentyyears of being a jockey, not once have I not met the required weight. If I know a race is coming up, and I know the horse I will be riding, I change my diet to maintain the weight I need to qualify.”
“What about being the head jockey here? You’ll be running different horses.”
“Yes, and I’ll talk with Cole about the commission’s requirements. But, if I race them at one seventeen or eighteen, everything should be good.”
Shay shook his head at what he just learned. He stared into the fire he had built, then looked at her. “Thank you for saying you’d take me to the doctor, but I can’t ask you that.”
“You’re not asking, I’m volunteering.” She saw his expression and shook her head. “Think of it like this. I’m the extra person here. Someone will have to stop working, and it’s my understanding the New Double is in need of working hands, to take you to your appointment. Then if Lois or Laurie take you, you’re taking them away from whatever they’re doing. It’s also my understanding that Lois and some guy by the name of Ducky are making home-made horse treats. Do you know how expensive they can be if you don’t make them yourself?”
“No.”
“It could cost hundreds to thousands of dollars if they were purchased for all the horses that Erin Riceman is responsible for. I don’t know how many horses are here, but just one treat a day, per horse, would probably take up one package, maybe two. The cheapest things on the market are around fifty dollars a package.”
“Shit, and if they go through one a day, that’s almost twenty grand a year. I had heard she purchases a lot of carrots and apples, but damn, that’s still a lot.”
“Yes, and if Lorissa is a vet, along with Tom, then they know their nutritional value and can probably purchase theingredients needed to make them. There are recipes all over the internet for them. Just like homemade dog treats.”
“This might be a stupid question, but what are the value of these homemade treats? Would it be worth the hassle of making them instead of buying them?”
“Yes, then we know what is in them, there won’t be any fillers that might be harmful for the horse, and they will get the vitamins and minerals that they need. Think of it like we would take a one a day vitamin.”
“Ah, I understand. But I still don’t want to take you away from what you have to do.”
“I was going to leave to go back home tomorrow. But if we’re getting this storm, then a couple of days won’t hurt. I would rather the storm blew past us, and I follow it, than leave tomorrow and get caught in the middle of it. I did that on the way here, and it delayed my trip by two extra days.” She shook her head and shivered. “Trust me when I tell you the only motel room I could find in the storm was far from a five-star place. I doubt it ever received a one-star review. I had to stay there for two days.”
“I’m sorry. If you’re absolutely sure, then yes, I would like for you to take me to the doctor tomorrow.”
“Where and what time?”
“Colorado Springs at eleven. I thought we could leave here at nine, giving us plenty of time.”
“Do you have the address?”
“It’s in my room. We can program the GPS in the morning.”
“Okay, now, where’s your phone?”
“Why?”
“So I can give you my number, in case you need something in the middle of the night. You can also call Cole to tell him you have a ride.” She shook her head at him when it looked like he was going to protest. “If you’re worried about throwingmy schedule off, think of this. There is snow on the ground, where am I going to run the horses? They can run in mud, rain, sunshine, but not snow, especially untried horses. Even if I get back here, we’ll still have to rework the track so it’s runnable… If that’s a word.” She grinned when he snorted a laugh. He sighed, knowing he was beat.
“My phone is in my bedroom. Down the hall on the right.”
Faith rose to go get it, and she saw it on the bedside table plugged into the charger. It reminded her that she had to charge hers. She unplugged it and took it directly to him. After he put in his password, she gave him her number, and looked at him with a raised brow, and he gave her his. She took his empty beer bottle to the kitchen when he dialed and started talking to Cole. She stayed in the kitchen to give him privacy. When he called out he was done, she returned.
“Thank you, Cole says thank you also, and said if you run into any trouble, call him.”
“We shouldn’t, but it’s nice to know there’s someone out there looking out for you.”
